Jacquelyn C.

Jacquelyn was 38, a new mom juggling two small children and a demanding job when life took an unexpected turn. She had skipped her annual skin check, but her one-year-old son didn't miss a thing. For seven relentless months, he pointed to a tiny freckle on her shoulder—always the same one. It looked harmless, but his persistence wore her down. When she finally scheduled that overdue appointment, a nurse took a biopsy from the very spot her son had been focused on. Three days later, her life

Initially calm, Jacquelyn thought they'd just remove it and she'd be fine. After surgery, they discovered the cancer had spread to her lymph nodes, requiring a second, more invasive surgery. When her doctor said they needed to discuss further treatment with an oncologist, she realized the battle was far from over.

Standard chemotherapy wouldn't work, so doctors recommended immunotherapy—intense, continuous treatment much like chemo. Jacquelyn endured nine-hour IV sessions every day for six weeks, followed by treatments three times a week for 11 more months. The treatment was devastating: unbearable pain, neuropathy, cognitive decline, and hair loss. She lost herself during that year of treatment, unable to function as the mother, wife, or professional she had been.

Nine months into treatment, when her husband was drained and desperate, he pulled into a neighborhood church parking lot on a whim. The preschool director noticed his despair and, after hearing their story, offered their children scholarships for the daycare program. This one act of kindness changed everything, allowing her husband to return to work, providing stability for the kids, and giving Jacquelyn a chance to focus on healing.

When asked about how CanCare impacted her life... When I completed treatment in 2014, I was physically and mentally exhausted but also profoundly changed. Facing cancer had stripped away everything I thought I knew about life, but in doing so, it also taught me what was truly important. I knew then I wanted to make a difference. My journey was far from over—I wanted to share my experience to offer others strength and hope.

My words to pass along to anyone facing cancer... No matter how dark the days seem, there's light, often found in the smallest, most unexpected places. And sometimes, that light is all you need to keep moving forward. I often think about what got me through—the strength in small acts of kindness, the resilience I found within myself, and the support of my community. Each day, I work to share that message of hope.

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